2 soldiers die after shooting at South Sudan vice-president’s home in Juba

JUBA, MAY 19, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – At least two South Sudan army soldiers were killed on Friday morning following shooting at one of the residences of the country’s vice-president for economic cluster James Wani Igga in the capital Juba, an aide said.

Nelson Liju, Vice-President Igga’s deputy press secretary, said the fatal shooting at the vice-president’s residence took place after a soldier working as a guard at another residence of the vice president came and started shooting at colleagues.

“I was not at the scene but what I was by the witnesses is that Kerbino Akok who is also a soldier but was not assigned as a guard and was only assigned to guard another residence came and begun shooting at anyone presence,” Liju said on phone.

“”After killing one of his colleagues and wounding two other people, he turned the gun at himself and died. So, this is what has happened, and investigation is currently underway from the security forces,” the official further added.

When asked as to if the shooting could be an attempt on vice-president Igga’s life, Liju ruled out any possibility, noting that the culprit who is also dead was drunk at the time of the incident and said there is a bigger possibility that he was acting alone.

“I don’t think that there is any possibility to that because the culprit was drunk. Although we cannot accuse anyone, the security forces are currently doing their work and very soon their investigation results will be made public,” he added.

The latest killing of Vice-President Igga’s guards is not the first of its kind. In August 2020, armed assailants believed to be members of the rebellious National Salvation Front (NAS) attacked Vice-President Igga’s bodyguards at Lobonok Payam of Juba County.

At least six soldiers were killed, and no one was held accountable for the incident.

The attack is neither the first time for a key member of President Salva Kiir’s government to be attacked by his own bodyguard.

In 2021, the Inspector General of South Sudan People’s Defense Forces  (SSPDF) General Dor Manjur Gatluak was attacked in his office at Bilpam by his bodyguard. He was badly wounded and had to be flown to the Sudanese capital Khartoum for treatment.